PSYCHOL 2007 - Psychology in Society

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2015

This course seeks to build upon Level I Psychology, specifically areas relating to social, cross-cultural and organisational psychology. Social psychology lectures will include topics central to contemporary research in social cognition drawing specifically on experimental research on explicit and implicit processes in social perception. It will consider the social and psychological functions of stereotyping and the extent to which this psychological process can be brought under intentional control. Cultural psychology lectures will examine the ways in which the culture we are born into exerts a powerful influence on all aspects of our lives and how psychological knowledge itself can be shaped by cultural assumptions and values. Particular emphasis will be placed on indigenous issues in psychology and the importance of understanding these in the context of clinical and applied work with indigenous people. Organisational psychology will provide students with an understanding of how psychology can be used to enhance selection, recruitment and performance assessment in organisations, the impact on work performance of organisational culture, and the role of the organisational psychologist.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PSYCHOL 2007
    Course Psychology in Society
    Coordinating Unit Psychology
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites PSYCHOL 1000, PSYCHOL 1001 and PSYCHOL 1004 or equivalent
    Incompatible PSYCHOL 2000A/B & PSYCHOL 2002 or PSYCHOL 2003
    Course Description This course seeks to build upon Level I Psychology, specifically areas relating to social, cross-cultural and organisational psychology. Social psychology lectures will include topics central to contemporary research in social cognition drawing specifically on experimental research on explicit and implicit processes in social perception. It will consider the social and psychological functions of stereotyping and the extent to which this psychological process can be brought under intentional control. Cultural psychology lectures will examine the ways in which the culture we are born into exerts a powerful influence on all aspects of our lives and how psychological knowledge itself can be shaped by cultural assumptions and values. Particular emphasis will be placed on indigenous issues in psychology and the importance of understanding these in the context of clinical and applied work with indigenous people. Organisational psychology will provide students with an understanding of how psychology can be used to enhance selection, recruitment and performance assessment in organisations, the impact on work performance of organisational culture, and the role of the organisational psychologist.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Martha Augoustinos

     
    School of Psychology Office:
    Ph +61 8313 5693; Email psychologyoffice@adelaide.edu.au


    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1.    Examine critically examine psychological practices, research and theory in relation to cross-cultural perspectives and theories of cross-cultural competency.
    2.    Review and critique contemporary issues in relation to social psychology, including experimental methods related to stereotyping and social cognition models.
    3.    Understand the role of organisational psychologists, including how to assess work performance, the importance of team and group work, and the scope and limitations of psychological tests related to the work place.
    4.    Understand some of the issues relating to mental health and wellbeing of diverse groups of people, including Indigenous Australians and people with refugee backgrounds.
    5.    Locate and examine critically previous psychological literature and research in relation to diverse populations, and write a critical essay examining this literature and research.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1-4
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 5
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 1-3
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 5
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 5
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1-5
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1-5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Muchinsky, P. M. (8th ed, 2006). Psychology applied to work.  Thomson Wadsworth
    Augoustinos, M., Walker, I. & Donaghue, N. (3rd ed, 2014). Social Cognition.  London: Sage.

    For additional information regarding required resources please refer to the relevant Undergraduate Program Handbook at the following link:
    http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/current-students/forms-handbooks/
    Recommended Resources
    For additional information regarding recommended resources please refer to the relevant Psychology Program Handbook and the General Handbook for Undergraduate Psychology students (available at the link below):

    http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/current-students/forms-handbooks/
    Online Learning
    All lectures will be recorded and made available on MyUni along with associated power-point slides for each lecture.

    Please Refer to Link to MyUni below:
    https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Learning and teaching for this course consists of 24 lectures that are supported by self-directed learning exercises and tasks and four face-to-face tutorials. Students are expected to take an independent approach to learning by doing all prescribed readings associated with course material.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Contact time consists of 24 lectures and 4 tutorials = 28 hours
    Intercultural psychology major paper = 30 hours
    Organisational minor paper = 8 hours
    Multiple Choice Quiz Social Psychology = 8 hours
    Background Reading = 80 hours
    Exam = 2 hours

    Total: 156 hours
    Learning Activities Summary

    Week Topic Lecture
    Week 1 Cross-cultural psychology Cross-cultural psychology
    Week 2 Indigenous issues in psychology Indigenous issues in psychology
    Week 3 Refugees, resilience, and mental health and wellbeing Indigenous Australians and social and emotional wellbeing
    Week 4 Cross cultural competency Working cross-culturally: theories and practice
    Week 5 Organisational Psychology: An introduction The development of work related psychological assessment
    Week 6 Interviews, Assessment Centres & references Performance Appraisal at work
    Week 7 Work values and work culture Going beyond traditional assessment
    Week 8 Groups and teams Organisational Psychology in action
    Week 9 Introduction to Social Cognition Social perception
    Week 10 Social Perception Implicit social perception
    Week 11 Unconscious stereotyping Category Inhibition
    Week 12 Stereotypes and prejudice Perceiving cultural and social diversity
    Disclaimer: This program is provisional and subject to change
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    One small group discovery experience session will be held in this course. It will involve facilitated group work with academic staff from the School of Psychology
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Learning Outcome(s) being addressed
    Major Essay Summative 30% 1-5
    Organisational -
    minor paper
    Summative 5% 1-5
    Social Quiz Summative 5% 1-5
    Tutorial Attendance Summative 6% 1-5
    Class presentation in tutorials Summative 4% 1-5
    Exam Summative 50% 1-5
    Assessment Detail
    1.    Major Essay on Intercultural Psychology –  Electronic submission.
    2.    Minor paper on organisational psychology – Electronic Submission
    3.    Social Psychology Quiz -  Electronic Submission
    4.    Class presentation during last tutorial in Week 12
    5.    Exam – 2 Hours during Examination period in Semester 2. Consists of Multiple Choice and short answer questions.

    Please refer to the Level II Psychology Handbook and the General Handbook for Undergraduate Psychology students (available at the links below) for further details relating to assessment.
    Submission
    All work is to be electronically submitted except for class presentations in Week 12 and written exam during the Examination period.

    Please refer to the General Handbook for Undergraduate Psychology students (available at the link below) for details on submission process/requirements, penalties for late submission, the process of applying for extensions, and the staff “turn-around” timeline on assessments and the provision of feedback and policy relating to re-submission/redemptive work.

    http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/current-students/forms-handbooks/
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.